The Ballet Manila Archives is the repository of documents, print, photographic, audio and video materials and memorabilia relating to the history of Ballet Manila and the life and career of its founder, prima ballerina Lisa Macuja-Elizalde. This site is powered by Ms. Elizalde and Project Art, Inc.
All tagged Lisa Macuja Elizalde
Of all the wonders that the world had to offer, only art promised immortality.
The trip to Krasnoyarsk, in the heart of Siberia, was the fifth for Lisa Macuja and Osias Barroso.
Maybe that’s why Dumaguete is still the kind of city where a ballet like Swan Lake matters. Because we haven’t lost our capacity to believe in beauty.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we turn the spotlight on these women of many facets – fierce, gracious, hopeful – as they have been portrayed by Ballet Manila.
In what has become an annual tradition for us at the Ballet Manila Archives, we celebrate Flores de Mayo with a showcase of floral-focused scenes at the ballet!
The International Dance Day Festival opens on April 22, with the Ballet Gala slated on April 25, Saturday, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater of Circuit Makati.
In this video, Lisa is seen putting together the choreography during Paquita’s first rehearsal. Joining her are principal dancers Abigail Oliveiro, Mark Sumaylo and Romeo Peralta Jr.
The lowly broom was a favorite prop in La Fille Mal Gardee, Cinderella and Snow White, figuring in scenes that drew much laughter in between the romance.
Sleeping Beauty will be the shared offering of Ballet Manila and Manila Symphony Orchestra as they open their respective seasons.
In this clip are photos from the show, highlighting the seamless merging of The Dawn’s percussive sound with Ballet Manila’s artistry and technique.
The Dawn of Ballet is a special edition of Ballet Manila’s long-running Ballet & Ballads series, a brainchild of Manila Broadcasting Company chairman Fred J. Elizalde.
Looking back now, Macuja Elizalde believes everything that has happened in her career was destiny, particularly the detour in 1986 which brought her back to the land where was born and raised – and got her first taste of ballet.
As we gallop into the Year of the Horse, we revisit a trio of Ballet Manila productions that have featured the equine image and the role it played in each story.
As the company gears for another busy and prolific season, we look back on some highlights of 2025 for that extra boost of inspiration.
Snow White will have daily shows from December 25 to 29 every 4 p.m. at Aliw Theater, Pasay City, with two casts.
Since putting up its first The Nutcracker in 1998, Ballet Manila has staged the Christmas ballet several more times in succeeding years.
As a touring group in its early years, Ballet Manila was able to tap a variety of audiences all over the Philippines, including those that had not seen ballet before.
